Process for straightening stems of glassware



R. C. COBEL PROCESSFOR STRAIGHTENING STEMS OF GLASSWARE Filed Dec. 31,1948 May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m m m m Pay 0. 6012121. BY

M I w M 19-51 R. c. COBEL 2,553,358

PROCEss FOR STRAIGHTENING STEMS 0F GLASSWARE Filed Dec. 51, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 II I a i' I I IN V EN TOR.

Fo a awe]. BY M, flokgw m Patented May 15, 1951 PROCESS FORSTRAIGHTENING STEMS OF GLASSWARE Ray C. Cobel, Newark, Ohio, assignor toA. H. Heisey & Company, Newark, Ohio Application December 31, 1948,Serial No. 68,622

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to process for straightening stems of glassware. Ithas to do, more particularly, with a process for straightening the stemsof glassware after they have been formed and attached to the blown bodyof the article by a pressing operation and just prior to the time a footis cast on each stem.

It has long been the practice to position the partially blown articlehaving a pressed stem thereon of final form in a glory hole or furnacein order to fire polish the stem and prepare it for receiving the foot.The heat sometimes permits the free end of the stem to bend downwardlybecause of its weight but without destroying its cross-sectional shapeso that it is necessary to Work on the stem with a wooden paddle inorder to straighten it. This operation is diflicult to perform andrequires considerable skill and time. In manipulating the partiallycompleted article to straighten the stem, it i customary to support theblowpipe on a chair, n a pair of rails, or on supports which ,permitoscillation of the pipe about its axis. Obviously, it would be desirableto have a suitable cradle or support designed especially to support theblowpipe to permit efficient oscillation.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a very simple,efiicient and practical process for straightenin the stems of glassware,which stems have been previously pressed to final form and after thepressed stems have been heated for fire polishing and the free endsthereof have been caused to sag or bend.

Various other objects will be apparent.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational'view showing a partially completed glassarticle on a blowpipe, the article having the pressed stem thereon.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the article on the blowpipe beinginserted in the glory hole to fire polish the stem.

Figure 3 shows the article after it is removed from the glory hole andshows how the free end of the stem has sagged due to the heat and itsweight. I

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the table which I provide forsupporting the blowpipe, the blowpipe being shown in position on thetable with the article thereon having the stem in the distortedcondition shown in Figure 3, the straightening operation being startedby means of my novel tool which is illustrated in the position it willbe held during manipulation of the ipe.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the stem instraightened condition.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stem straightening tool.

Figure 7 is a similar perspective view illustratin how the bent stem issubjected to the tool.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the stem in the receiving cavityof the tool after the stem has been straightened.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken through thetoolsubstantially on line l0l0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the straightening member of the tool showingthat the cavity thereof may be of different peripheral outline toreceive a difierent shaped stem.

Figure 12 i a view illustrating the type of article which may be made bymy process.

-With reference to the drawings, in Figures 6 to 11, inclusive, I haveillustrated in detail the stem straightening tool I which I preferablyprovide according to my invention, The tool I comprises a handle 2 whichmay be of any suitable material, preferably a non-conducting materialSuch as wood. Attached to the handle 2 is the stem straightening member3 of the tool. This member 3 is preferably in the form of a fiat sectionof carbon material, although it may be made of other materials. Themember 3 is preferably removably secured to the handle 2 by means of thescrews 4 which pass through openings in member 3 and are threaded intosockets 5 disposed in the handle 2. The upper surface of the member 3 isprovided with a stem.-receiving cavity 6. This cavity 6 is ofsemi-circular cross-section and is of proper peripheral outline toreceive the stem of the glass article which will eventually be workedtherein. It will be noted that the one end 1 of the cavity 6 is openwhile the other end 8 is closed. Obviously, the free end of the stemwill be disposed at the end 8 while the end which is attached to thebody of the article will be at the end 1.

Because the member 3 is made of carbon, it will not injure the glassstem and will not be injured by the hot glass stem which will eventuallybe worked into contact with the bottom thereof throughout its length.The cavity 6 will be of a peripheral outline corresponding substantiallyto cept that it will be slightly larger. A indicated, 7

the cavity will have deepened portions for receiving the enlargements,such as beads, bosses, or knobs, formed on the stem. 1

In Figures 4 and, 5 I have illustrated a stand or table 9 which ispreferably used in performing my process in conjunction with the tool I.This stand comprises a main support or plate I 0 which is preferably ofmetal and which is carried by the four legs ll braced by means of thediagonal bracegJZ connected .to the legs and to the plate IO. At eachend of the plate It], an angle bracket [3 is provided. On the upper edgeof each bracket l3 a pair of rollers I 4 is mounted and each roller iscarried by an anti-friction bearing. These rollers serve as a cradle forreceiving the blowpipe B which is illustrated in position on the cradlesin Figures 4 and 5. Extending laterally from the plate It! at each endthereof is a horizontal arm having an upstanding lug is at its outerend. These arms l5 serve as supports for receiving the blowpipe B whenit is not in use. Opposite the arm l5 at the one end thereof is a pin I!which will aid in guiding the outer end of the blowpipe to a position onthe adjacent cradle.

The opposite end of the stand is provided with a projecting horizontalshelf l B.

The body of the article A is blown in the usual manner 'on the blowpipeB,'as shown in Figure 1, with the'stem S shaped and attached thereto bythe usual pressing operation. The stem is in final form but needs to befire polished. For this purpose, the article on the blowpipe is insertedin the glory hole G in the usual manner, as shown in Figure'2. Due tothe heat required for fire polishing and because of the inherent weightof 3 the stem, its free end will sag orbenddownward- 1y, as shown inFigure 3 which illustrates the article after removal from the gloryhole.

To straighten the stem S, the blowpipe is cradled on the stand, asillustrated in Figure 4. The blowpipe is oscillated slightly with onehand and in the otherhand the tool I is held. This tool is held so thatthe member 3 will be below 'the stem and the stem will partially extendinto ithe cavity 6.

and gradually lifting upwardly with the tool, the stem S will graduallywork into the cavity 6 which will serve as 'a guide to straighten it.The foot F of the article is then cast thereon in the usual manner andthe cup C of'the article is' shaped in the usual way.

M It will be apparent that the stem straightening 'member 3 is not amold or forming member for shaping the entire stem but that the cavitythereof serves as a supporting guide surface on which the stem caneventually be worked in order to straighten it. At the time the stem isbeing straightened, the glass is sufficiently set so that the slightoscillation of the stem relative to the cavity will not destroy thecross-sectional contour of the stem, even though it might be of angularBy slightly oscillating the blowpipe 3 sirable characteristics.

cross-section. Because the surface of the cavity is carbon and,therefore, relatively soft, this further aids in facilitating thestraightening of the stem without destroying its cross-sectionalcontour. In other words, the bottom of the cavity serves as an axiallyextending support upon which the stem will be worked to bring theportions thereof in axial alignment. -In working'the stem with thestraightening member, the free end of the stem will preferably first beinserted in the cavity, in the manner shown in Figures 4 and 7, and thestem will gradually be worked into the cavity from such free end to itsend which is attached to the body of the article A. It will be notedfrom Figures 9 and 10 that the cavity is slightly larger than the stem.The contact of the stem and bottom of the cavity is throughout thelength of the stem including the beads, bosses, and knobs on the stemand the corresponding indented portions in the bottom of the cavity.

It'will be apparent from the above description that I have provided aprocess having many de- Some of these have been discussed and otherswill be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The process of producing a glass stem on a glass article whichcomprises heating the previously formed stem and then straightening itby associating it with a straightening tool which has a cavity ofsemicircular cross-section for receiving the stem, said cavity having anoutline in plan corresponding substantially to a longitudinal sectionthrough the central part of the stem but being slightly larger and beingof substantially 1 the same length as the stem.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the straightening tool isprovided with a cavity having a wall of carbon.

3. The process of straightening a pressed stem on a glass article whichhas been heated for fire polishing, which comprises subjecting the stemto a straightening tool which has an axially extending cavity ofsemicircular cross-section and of an outline in plan correspondingsubstantially to the outline of a longitudinal section through thecentral part. of the stem and being slightly larger, and oscillating thestem with at least a portion thereof in the cavity and manipulating thetool until the stem isgradually worked into the bottom of the cavity andcontacts therewith throughout its length. 7

. RAY C. COBEL.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

